simplicity
[sim-plis-i-tee]
- the state, quality, or an instance of being simple.
- freedom from complexity, intricacy, or division into parts: an organism of great simplicity.
- absence of luxury, pretentiousness, ornament, etc.; plainness: a life of simplicity.
- freedom from deceit or guile; sincerity; artlessness; naturalness: a simplicity of manner.
- lack of mental acuteness or shrewdness: Politics is not a field for simplicity about human nature.
Show More
Origin of simplicity
Synonyms
See more synonyms for simplicity on Thesaurus.com4. candor, directness, honesty.
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018
Examples from the Web for simplicity
Contemporary Examples
Newman imparts a simplicity and a boyish eagerness to his characters.
The value of the rapid diagnostic test lies in its simplicity.
This New Ebola Test Is As Easy As a Pregnancy Test, So Why Aren’t We Using It?Abby Haglage
October 3, 2014
The emphasis on freshness and simplicity laid forth by the governmental guidelines is in line with his cooking ethos.
Meet the Chef Fighting to Ensure That Brazilians Will Never Be as Fat as AmericansBrandon Presser
June 25, 2014
But the problem is aggravated immeasurably by the simplicity of current-day pop music.
Furthermore, the simplicity of his clothes belied their technical virtuosity, their status.
Historical Examples
Simplicity and self-forgetfulness were manifest in carriage and utterance.
Weighed and WantingGeorge MacDonald
Yet something new, inexplicable, thwarted her and changed the simplicity of her passion.
The DreamEmile Zola
The bluntness of Lizzie's speech disconcerted him, and yet the simplicity of it reassured him.
The Foolish LoversSt. John G. Ervine
I did not laugh at her simplicity, nor did I smile or feel any inclination to smile.
Green MansionsW. H. Hudson
He let them do so in the innocence of his heart and the simplicity of his mind.
The Secret AgentJoseph Conrad
simplicity
- the quality or condition of being simple
Show More
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition
© William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
Word Origin and History for simplicity
n.
late 14c., "singleness of nature, unity, indivisibility; immutability," from Old French simplicite (12c., Modern French simplicité), from Latin simplicitatem (nominative simplicitas) "state of being simple, frankness, openness, artlessness, candor, directness," from simplex (genitive simplicis) "simple" (see simplex). Sense of "ignorance" is from c.1400; that of "simplicity of expression, plainness of style" is early 15c.
Middle English also had simplesse, from French, attested in English from mid-14c. in sense "humility, lack of pride," late 14c. as "wholeness, unity;" c.1400 as "ignorance."
Show More
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper